to antecedents or consequents for no man by meer reason can conceiv the mystery of Soul-creating nor doo they infer infusion for that is doon within the Body Haply he might learn of his Master Plato that al Souls were created at once and descend daily into Bodies designed for them but he taught the Souls immortality more confidently being Natures principal Secretary by many evidences of common reason which if any Traductist or other Sectist shal doubt or deny he is wors then an Ethnic or Atheist sith both Natures light and Scriptures lore so evidently demonstrat it to every ey nor doth Traduction oppose it Arg. Scaliger holds the Soul to be created apart and infused after du organization becaus if it be introduced at the instant of conception that first coagulation must be a Man which is most absurd Ergo 't is not infused til the time of quickning much less ingendred by way of Traduction Answ His opinion is no Oracle and the reason resolved afore That 't is no more absonous to cal the fiâ—st coagulation a Man imperfect or incomplet then a weak waterish Embryo at instant of quickning Or that a Beasts soul being begot by seed should denominat the first rudiments of conception a Beast being brought gradualy to more maturity til time of parturition but the quickning is or may be retarded by many human contingents Arg. Thâ— Sâ—hool-men say That Eves Soul was created els Adam would hav added she is Soul of my Soul so wâ—l as bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh being a nâ—erer relation then those carnal ones as Divines define Ergo as their two first Souls were created so consequently are al others from generation to generation Answ So say they but other learned Clercs gainsay Scaurus ait Varus negat utri creditis yet the consequent halts sith their two productions differ from al els becaus neither had two Parents and al els except Christ begot by carnal coition but specialy becaus created within the first six dais wherafter God rested from al creatific works To the Antecedent and reason therof 't is answered That she was formed intirely of an animaâ— Rib and the Soul therin becam hirs by divine operature as the Text seems to speak for 't is said of Adam God made Man meâ—â—ing the material part of dust not made dust a Man as if both parts cam from dust But of Eve the Rib made he a Woman intirely both Body and Soul not the Woman of a Rib as importing the material part only Al parts were built of that bone why not then the Soul too by diffusion so wel as the integrals by extension but sith Scripture is silent let it pass in suspens Repl. If Eves Soul cam of a Rib and had no divine origin then either women hav no Souls as som Dotards dream or thos material which wil sâ—ars relish their palats Answ Not so nor so for that Rib had a Soul which God by diffusing made hirs as he did her Bâ—dy by distending the material part so both savour of their several principles one of spirituality immarcescibility the other of materiality and mortality but both apt or able to beget alike substance indowed with the same qualities Arg Christs Soul was not traducted from Adam for then it should be tainted with his sin which is blasphemy to assert Eâ—go not ours sith he is like us in al things except only sin Answ He was the Womans seed and Son of Adam according to his whol humanity and his Soul produced in the same sort as ours whâ—â—her by creation or generation is the main Question being lik◠〈◊〉 things 〈◊〉 sin For ours if creâ—ted are infused no less 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his and his by union with a polluted Body no freer from sin then ours so this Stork bites both before and behind alike for if he took from his Mother inanimat flâ—sh only his Soul must therby be stained though created pure as others are defiled but one salv shal heal both sores for albeit she was conceived in sin and Luk. 1. 47. needed a Saviour as she her self confesseth which Dominicans grant and Franciscans deny yet was sanctified from al stain and purified from guilt by the wonderful working of the Holy Ghost being made a clean Vessel to receiv and conceiv that holy thing caled the Son of God even the immaculat Lamb without spot slain before the beginning of the World who could contract no pollution from hir that had none being perfectly purified though he should assume both Body and Soul from hir Repl. Zanchy saith Som Traductists forced by this Argument confess That Christs Soul wâ—s created but al els traducted but the production is like Ergo al created Answ Haply he dreams so but ther is no necessity of any such confession or concession for the Argument is already plenarily satisfied Certes Christ had his whol human Nature from his Mother by the Holy Ghosts miraculous operature in the same maner by creation or generation as others hav from Parents Arg. Three Sects or Septs of Heretics held Traduction 1. Luciferians by Souls transfusion 2. Marsilians who denied al Creation 3. Tertullianists and Apollinarians who assert that Souls generat Souls as Bodies doo Bodies Ergo Traduction is an Heretical Tenet condemned by the Church Answ They were condemned Heretics but Traduction no condemned Heresy nor a matter de fide and inserted for aggravation as crossing the common received opinion to fil up a number which was usual yet the two first erred circumstantialy in that point But al Hereticks held som verities and the best Orthodoxists som falsities sith al Mortals are obnoxius to manifold errors Thes are the Infusiastists chief Arguments with the Traductists Answers sincerely exhibited Next follow the Traductists Objections or offensiv weapons and Infusiastists defensiv Solutions taken from their best Armories Ob. God bid Man bring forth fruit and fil the earth but this Geâ— 1. 28. Precept concerns the whol compound conflated of Soul and Body Ergo both parts proceed from Parents Sol. Man is said in som sort to beget the whol becaus by producing and preparing the material part he is Author of the union wherin consists the whol Humanity which sufficeth to univocal generation though the principal part be not product by him How satisfactory this is shal be left to Arbitrement Ob. God ceased from al creatific works the seventh day 〈◊〉 2. 2. wherof the infusing of mans Soul was one Ergo he doth not creat multituds of Souls every moment Sol. He ceased from creating Compounds and Species or Kinds but not from forms or Essential parts such as Souls be Repl. If he creat al individual Souls ther being numberless births every instant in the vast univers then he concurs as a particular Agent or third Parent but he is only universal Father of al Creatures Ergo no particular third Parent in Mans production Sol. God is Omnipotence and Infinity in the Abstract who can creat
I prefer venerable Antiquity ratified by our Church to phantastic fanatic novities of modern devisers in al Adiaphorals Let thos that lov Monarchy Prelacy Liturgy Burial Sermons Mariage by Ministers and harmless holy dais hold their Opinions stil but such as wil hav none shal hav none with my good wil so every one may ride his own Hobby-Hors If Adders wil not be charmed nor Panthers tamed let them remain wild or wilful stil One punctilio rests wheâ—in I would gladly be right understood that I somwher blazen the personal virtues of som Soveraign Princes and brand others Vices as Henry 6. and Richard 3. which al Histories doo for Mens instruction but never handle their Regal perfections or imperfections For 't is oft seen as in thos two with many mo that a good Man is an il Magistrat and contrarily which writers may display for the general good but I hav more moral maners and Serpentin sublety then to meddle with State-matters that are too high for me If they shal depress or discard Ministry Tiths Glebes Patronages Universities Hospitals Corporations Common Law Chancery or what els as is doon to Monarchy Prelacy Cathedral Churches Liturgy holy Fests Civil Law high Commission Court Service at Burials Ministerial Nuptials I shal sit silent in a corner to condole such reverend ruins but wil never put Pen to Paper against the Authors Actors or Abettors having no authority so to doo only I vent my Opinion in point of retiocination not resolution touching the lawfulnes or usefulnes of them as others doo theirs sans scandal or offens to any unles gauld Jades wil winch This is the common Character or cogniscance of a so caled cursed Cavalier which I cannot but own or acknowledg how odious so ever Couste qui couste non est mortale quod opto Let cost what cost it may No mortal thing I weigh Howbeit I claim the privilege of Conscience promised and proclamed to al except Popery and Prelacy which concern me not For what crime caus or color of hate can be alleged against such simplicians as never acted on any side nor were ever questioned for Delinquents as I was not yet twise imprisoned both by Sea and Land sav that they dissent in Judgment or Opinion So doo al Sects Septs and Fâ—ctions one from another yea among themselfs in ech which is no Moral vice nor civil fault Quot homines tot sententiae so many fancies as faces The Catholic Moderator checks al contenders about points of Religion and givs good Counsil in a few Rythms to this effect Why for Opinions inter-kil we thus Who 's truth not force but reason must discus Reason whos chief force in Opinion lies Reason whos fals gloss oft deceivs the Wise God doth in lov peace concord unity dwel Hate envy malice confines are to Hel. Now to return from this Apologetic digression thos ten foregoing cavils are their best Basiliscs of Battery which are cast or couched into Enthymems for easier capacity and both Propositions in ech fals or fucatious but the astructiv Arguments folow built on surer foundations 1. The universal Church in al ages both institued thes Fests 1 Argument in Oecumenic Councils by precept and injoined them to be observed by al Christians in practise who annaly celebrated Christs Birth day and others for his sake which is so good or better warrant then any particular Churches or Congregations can pretend to erect Fests or Fasts yet thos very lawful and laudable 2. The Lutherans celebrat Christmas with som other Festivals 2 Arg. stil and sundry Calvinists wish it had bin never decried or disused among som of theirs 3. Our Church since the first plantation of Christianity 3 Arg. hath constantly celebrated them with al Religious Rites of divine Service Sermons and Sacraments specialy Christmas day 4. Divers Divines who in youth decried them most fiercely 4 Arg. hav of late waxing wiser defended and solemnized them to their great glory which palinodial recaâ—tation both in Expâ—rt◠〈◊〉 Pulpits and practise like St. Austins Retractation is a stronger proof on their behalf then the best Bulrushes prealledged against them 'T is tru that the hearts inward holines in thanksgiving for this chief work of our Redemption is a most acceptable sacrifice to God yet may not extern worship in Congregations and other lawful exultations be rejected or vilipended 5. The disusing or despising them is a ready step in the 5 Arg. vulgar to Atheism or Irreligion when no solen Service or Sermons are used 6. Their nauseous contempt or explosion is an act of affected 6 Arg. Apostasy from the Catholic Church and of Schism or separation from our Reformed Mother which al obedient Sons should detest or decline for Aerius first branded set Fests and levelled Prelats with Presbyters for which pride with other heresies he was justly condemned and cast out of the Church 7. The Church of Smyrna soon after the Apostles dais 7 Arg. celebrated Polycarpus Martyry praying that God would permit them to consecrat the Birth-day so they cal it of his blessed death with joy and gratulation at their holy conventions to bestow that lov on Martyrs which is du for Christs sake whos disciples and imitators they were This pointly provs the antiquity of set Fests dedicated to Apostles and Martyrs which exemple the Smyrniens folowed Yea Christians from the Gospels very dawn met at Martyrs Monuments to serv God yer Churches were erected and from such Assemblies Churches had their origin 8. The end or necessity of Christs Nativity is triple 8 Arg. 1. That Gods promises and his Prophets predictions might be fulfilled 2. That God by it might manifest his lov to Mankind 3. That al lying under the Law might be redeemed els eternal death had passed on al Men sith al sinned Hence we are bound to render sincere thanks for thes inestimable benefits by a triple outward expression of gratulation 1. In Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs 2. In providing plentiful fare for our family inviting needy Neghbors to our Tables and large liberal alms at our Dores 3. In harmless mirth music and sports of recreation for Gods glory every Man more or less according to his ability and quality but not in prophane pleasures riots surfets excess drunkennes chambering or wantonnes as too many heretofore hav doon 9. If we may every 5. of Nov. as the Jews did in the Fests 9 Arg. of Purim declare our joy for a temporal deliverance of the State much more may we with praiers and praises record Gods special spiritual mercy in Christs Birth being a great joy to al People Al Fests lat celebrated in our Church are consecrâ—t to Christs honor or for his sake as shal appeer by exact enumeration of ech in order of the several Moneths 1. the Circumcision Jan. 1. 6. when he fulfilled the Lawish Covenant in his flesh 2. Epiphany or Apparition either in memory of the Star which led the wisemen
Aio Negas Nego a property of self-secking turn-coat Parasits becoms no tru Scholar nor ever harbored in my candid Dov like habitation the worth of Mutâ—â—m aâ—â—ilium your work wil shine the better and brighter by this foil or at least spread farther Opposita juxta se posita magis melius elucescunt and my Book haply wil be more esteemed becaus it brings such dainty exotic fruits and excellent flowers from your ful furnishd Eden When Sir Francis Bacon Viscount St. Alban intended to divulge his Instauratio Magna to new model al liberal literature he sent a MS. copy to crav Sir Thomas Budleis accurat judgment on it who after perusal highly commended as indeed it deserved both stile stuf and structure but told him the world would never want new Devisers and old Readers like Carriers horses could not leav their beaten Road being more addicted to antiquity then novity the application is obvious and superfluous Of later ages many Mr. withers and others men hav translated Davids Psalms into English meters seeking a priviledg to print them with our Bibles instead of thos allowed by Queen Elizabeth but could never obtein so base a Monopoly savoring more of filthy lucre then Scholastic ingenuity King James compiled a Translation but neither he nor his Son caused it to be inserted in the Bible sith new things seldom excel the old I wish you would revise or examin my excerptions not exceptions as Aliens and not your own to see what faults you can find in the Positions so wel as misprisions that fitting retractations may be made by your self or me or both in future Editions or new Additions for al men are too partial and obnoxious to errors To recapitulat the points that I dissent in are 1. That mans Summary Soul is an immortal substance first inspired by God into Adam and ever after produced successivly one from another though most Divines differ from us both by virtu of the general benediction to Increas and Multiply in their kinds but not life or breath only which as an accidental quality or effect of the Soul vanisheth ceaseth and perisheth with the Body That after separation from the Body by Death it subsists in Heaven or Hel for ever whereas al Essential parts els extinguish with their Bodies 2. That Church government belongs to the Clergy or Ecclesiastic Hierarchy being a Body distinct but subordinat from the Civil State 3. That the real kingdom of Heaven Gods high Throne wher Christ sits at his Fathers right hand in glory shal be the Elect Saints eternal Mansion wher they shal enjoy the beatific Vision or blessed presence of the sacro sanct Trinity face to face eviternaly 4. That Christ shal reign or remain in this Kingdom of Glory for ever resigning the Kingdom of Grace or Government of the Church to his Father that God may be al in al but not in any new finit World on Earth sith after the general Judgment al shal be infinity Your other Tenets touchig Gods Kingdom in Israel by contract or Covenant that Hel Hâ—lfire Torments Tormentors Satan Devil Accuser Dâ—sticier and such like are meant Metaphoricaly which al Divines take realy for the Vally of Hinnon caled Gehenna Bâ—imstome Lake of Sodom and Gomorrha the Churches Enimies or temporal Foes but no real Fiends which fel by pride that Christ never dispossessed any Men of Devils but only hâ—aled their bodily diseases or violent maladâ—es that ther is no Demonology Sorcery Witchery or Witches yet such justly deserv death for their fals opinion and wiâ—ked intention to doo mischief if they could which is hard Justice that suprem Soveraigns in al Stats whether legal Successors by long lineal Ancestry or late Conquerors and Intruders by power or policy are to sway al matters of Religion by their decrees dictats or directions both in defining the Canon of Scripture and al Articles of Faith wherto People must simply submit or implicitly obey whatever the civil Magistrat shal impose or innovat in Doctrin or Dâ—sciplin which is contrary to what they are taught that in such cases of Conscience they must rather obey God then Men. This the stubborn English wil scars subscribe whos contumacy was such against our last King that they rooted out him and his posterity upon pretext of Tyranny wherwith the mutinous male-contented multitud usualy brand or blast al their Roial Rulers Indeed Men ought with the noble Bereans to sift or serch whether thes things be so or no els al Common-wealths shal be stil Subject to put on new Masques or Visors of Religion at their Princes pleasures as Camaeleons change colors wheras Catholic constancy even with loss of life was ever esteemed the best blessed seed to sow Christian soil either under Pagans or Papists as our Marian Massacres make manifest but versatil wits like Weather-cocks can turn every way or with every wind to serv turns as Proteus is fained to vary Nunc violentus Aper nunc quem tetigisse timeres Anguis erit Now a fierce Bore fearful to see Next Snake horrid to touch hee 'l be Al the premised Positions with som other suspected Novities I touch not nor trench upon but commend them to the Readers free judgment If you wil deign to accept thes bold addresses or advertisments from an old Dotard who intends them fairly sans scandal or scurrility in good part you shal shew a laâ—dable disposition and liberal education according to the tru intention as they are tendered for the public behoof or benefit of the literary Republic if not I hav discharged my duty Docte tuum Nomen colo magnopereque recordo Si modo veridicus vis humilisque fore Noli Animam violare tuam nec tollere nostram Quam simul Authorum comprebat omne genus Nec tunicam spoliato tuam renuendo Ministros Jure suo Gregibus posse praeesse suis Nec Christo Sanct is Terrestria pradia finge Qui modo celsa Dei Coelica regna tenent Nec Tropice reputa Reprobos descendere ad Orcum Nec Coelum Electis detrahe post obitum Parce mihi mea si Theoremata redderâ— certo Justis vindiciis sospita ab omne malo Audeo non verbis contendere viribus impar Artibus Ingenio Literulisque bonis Unius haud oculus licet integer omnâ—â— cernit Multa scienda sapis tu resipisce tamen Learnd Sir your Name I lov and weigh greatly If you 'l embrace truth and humility Doo not your own Soul wrong nor ours take away Which Authors of al sorts maintaind alway Nor doo your Coat desile right to deny That Pastors hav power their Flocks to rectify To Christ and Saints fain not Earthly mansions Who now posless Gods Heav'nly habitations Nor deem the Damnd go t' Hel Tropicaly Nor Heaven after Death to th' Elect deny Spare m' if I to guard thes Theses contend And by just means from al il to defend I dare not striv in words being short in